Treatment of congenital heart disease complicated by severe bronchopneumonia in infants

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the treatment and the treatment outcome in infants with congenital heart disease complicated by severe pneumonia and heart failure. METHODS: The clinical data of 24 infants with congenital heart disease (left to right shunt) complicated by severe pneumonia and heart failure between January 2007 and December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-two infants recovered and 2 died. Severe pneumonia and heart failure were refractory even after 1-2 months medical treatment in 6 infants at ages of <6 months. They then underwent an open heart surgery under the mechanical ventilation and tracheal intubations and were successfully cured. The other 18 infants underwent a selective heart surgery after pneumonia and heart failure had been improved. Sixteen infants were successfully cured and 2 died of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome and diffuse intravascular clotting. CONCLUSIONS: The heart surgery should be performed early when the medical treatment does not work in infants with congenital heart disease complicated by severe pneumonia and heart failure. This may improve their outcome.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2009, 11 (8):635-637］